(Radio Iowa) – A rural Merrill man who was convicted last month of first-degree murder in the death of his stepson was sentenced this (Friday) afternoon to life in prison. Eighty-four-year-old Thomas Knapp, was found guilty of the shooting death of 51-year-old Kevin Juzek in May, 2020, at Knapp’s home near Merrill.

Knapp was also sentenced to up to ten years for willful injury in Juzek’s death. He was ordered to pay 150-thousand dollars in restitution to Juzek’s estate. Charges against Knapp for injuring his wife, Darlene, in the same incident, brought a sentence of five years in prison.

Knapp was given the opportunity to speak before sentence was handed down. He declined to do so.